Our View

By:

Christopher J. Ortiz

Jason Kosena

J.J. Babb

There might be one less free thing to do in Fort Collins now.

The Larimer County Parks and Open Lands Department is debating

charging people a fee for using county lands and parks.

Despite being closed since the Sept. 11 attacks, people have

been using the east side of Horsetooth Reservoir for free and now

people are upset they may have to pay a fee to use it.

The fee, either a $6 daily fee or a $65 yearly fee, will go

toward trail maintenance, trash collection, rangers, sewage,

pumping, cleaning and weed control, according to today’s story.

Using tax money for the upkeep and maintenance is out of the

question, considering our county and state budget problems.

We feel it is not out of the question to charge people to use

county parks and land. Though it is unfortunate for people who like

to do free things around Fort Collins, money is required to keep

the parks accessible for the public.

We feel that as long as the fee for the parks’ usage goes

directly toward the park, and not toward other county projects,

this fee is acceptable. Being closed for years most likely has

caused the trails to become overgrown and tough for people to use.

The fee would help clean the trails and create a more user-friendly

park.

We support the department’s decision to consider charging people

a fee to use Horsetooth Reservoir and other county land and

parks.